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GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – In their home opener this season, the Davenport softball team battled NCAA D2 foe Ferris State University today at the Christian Reformed Rec Center.  DU split with the Bulldogs losing the first game 3-0, but rebounding in the second winning 3-2.  Their overall record now stands at 16-8.

In the first game Davenport struggled to come up with much offense.  Ferris put two runs on the board in the second inning and added another in the fifth.  Only three Panthers came up with hits in the game – Katie Cornman, Kayla Gonyea, and Deb Burton. 

The Bulldogs wrapped up the 3-0 victory in the first half of the doubleheader.  Sam Cole took the loss for the Panthers.

On the backside of the double header, DU returned the favor by taking the early 2-0 lead in the first inning.  Gonyea was the first to reach base on a Bulldog error.  Cornman got her second hit of the day giving the Panthers two runners on base.  Freshman Ashleigh Blovsky then singled driving in both runners.

Davenport added their third run when Cornman nail her third hit of the day over the fence.  That was her fifth homer of the season.  Ferris State made things interesting in the top of the sixth when they hit back-to-back homeruns bringing them within one run.

With three outs to go in the top of the seventh, Davenport's strong defense came up big keeping the Bulldogs from reaching base after the first two batters.  Pitcher Karlee Despres did allow one walk, but sat the last batter down with her 11th strikeout of the game.  The win gave Despres her fourth victory of the season.

Blovsky finished the game with two hits, while Burton and Ali Dawson added one each.

Post-Game Comments

Head Coach Ronda Varnesdeel

On refocusing the team for the second game – “I think we tend to rely on our pitching staff a little too much.  We had the mindset of coming out strong early in the second game and get a jump on them and maintain our lead.  Then let our pitching staff do the work after that.”

On holding off Ferris after back-to-back homeruns in the sixth inning – “Softball is a game of one pitch,  inches or a couple feet that can be the determining factor in the game.  I think we work hard defensively and our pitchers have enough experience on the mound to keep their composure and that's what we did today.”

Senior Katie Cornman

On how the team rebounded in the second game – “I think we needed to come out strong and some people stepped up to the plate finally.  It was awesome to have everyone's support.”

On hitting a homerun in the home opener – “It felt awesome!  It's very exciting being at home for the first time, being a senior, and being able to do something big for my team.”

Post-Game Notes

Cornman now has 17 homeruns in her career…Today's games were the first against Ferris in the regular season…DU will be back in action this weekend with doubleheaders at Trevecca Nazarene and Cumberland University

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